. >> boehner is basically offering to end the fiscal cliff talks for the holidays. he would take up the spending cuts and debt ceiling debate next year. joining me tonight editor at large for salon, joan walsh. and democratic strategist bob shrum with us tonight. great to have both of you with us. >> thanks, ed. >> joan, what is boehner trying to prove here with this strategy? that he is so concerned with small business? what is happening here. >> exactly. i mean, look. he knows plan b is doa, ed. it doesn't do anything. it doesn't solve any problems. you know, it protects people who make between 250 and 1 million who are still quite wealthy. it doesn't make a dent in the deficit. and it also doesn't solve any of the sequestration problems. so, you know, i'm not a big fan of some of the issues, some of the concessions that i hear might be on the table. i'm withholding judgment until i hear everything that may be on the table, ed. but, you know, there is an argument for a deal. if you can get some unemployment insurance, if you get some infrastructure funding, and if